OHIP agrees to fund girl's cancer treatment

Phoebe Rose Doull-Hoffman, 3, has been fighting a persistent form of high-risk childhood leukemia since she was nine weeks old. She recently relapsed and Ontario refused to fund an experimental treatment her family and doctors believe he is her best option to beat the disease. (Submitted photo)

Chris Hofley, Ottawa Sun

OTTAWA - The family of a three-year-old Ottawa girl fighting cancer finally got some good news Monday.

After initially making the family wait 18 days to review the case of Phoebe Rose Doull-Hoffman, OHIP ultimately denied funding for an experimental treatment in New York.

After Phoebe’s mom, Jenny, spoke to the Sun in late June about her daughter’s battle with a high-risk form of infantile leukemia since she was nine weeks old, a number of other media outlets picked up the story. The family has also developed a huge following of supporters along the way.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins heard about Phoebe’s plight and contacted the family directly.

“I got a phone call from Ontario’s Health Minister ... and he said Phoebe’s story touched his heart,” Jenny Doull-Hoffman posted on Facebook Monday. “Things are looking up!”